Haem oxygenase (HO)‐1 is a phase II enzyme that responds to oxidative stress, cellular injury and diseases by metabolizing haem into biliverdin (BV)/bilirubin (BR), carbon monoxide (CO) and ferrous iron.5 HO‐1 is regarded as a survival molecule, as it exerts cytoprotection against various cells in response to stressful conditions.6, 7, 8 HO‐1 is widely recognized to overcome assaults by augmented oxidative stress from chemotherapeutic agents to prevent cancer cells from undergoing apoptosis and even stimulating cell proliferation. The gene discussed is HMOX1; the disease is cancer.